Dressing for LSE Summer School

When I was readying myself to come to London for the summer, I had no idea what kind of clothes to bring. I played it safe, brought a couple of dress shirts and dress shoes that I crammed into my suitcase last minute, but I was worried about not bringing the appropriate clothing. But after my time at London School of Economics and living in London for six weeks (two sessions), this is what I learned about what to wear.

Class

When going to class, people usually wear comfortable clothes that they would normally wear. I typically wore a hoodie or t-shirt with jeans. A person’s normal style works well for classes.

The City and Social Life

What to wear when going around the city depends on the occasion at hand. For the most part, I wore t-shirts and jeans or a polo shirt and trousers when going to a bar, going out to eat with friends, or just walking around the city. I wore a dress shirt when I went to a nicer restaurant or when I went on the LSE Thames River Cruise. I never needed to wear a suit or a blazer and khakis. However, depending on the activities you plan to attend, you may need smarter clothing - for example, one of my friends wanted to have afternoon tea at the Ritz, which has a very strict dress code of a jacket and tie. There are some occasions, such as attending a play on the West End, where it can be nice to dress up a little (e.g., dress shirt and trousers for men | a casual dress for women), but you do not have to. When I went to see a polo match, there were a lot of men wearing dress shirts and khakis and women wearing summer dresses. But I would say that an occasion such as a polo match is quite unique, and not something many will attend while at summer school. When going out to bars or clubs, women tended to wear typical partying outfits and men normally just wore t-shirts and jeans. There were also a few bars and clubs that required men to wear a dress shirt and women to wear a dress.

Weather

It’s called Summer School for a reason! While the UK may be known for having cooler temperatures than a lot of places around the world during the summer, it is still summer. You do not need to prepare for every season. So, make sure to pack appropriately for the weather. A big winter coat is not necessary and will only take up valuable suitcase space.

When I was in London, the temperature typically ranged from around 20°C/68°F in the morning to up to 30°C/86°F. It got to be as low as 12°C/54°F during some mornings, but that seemed to be relatively rare. I would recommend bringing a light jacket and trousers/jeans, but it will be warm most of the time. Prepare for a range of temperature changes throughout the day - layers are a good idea.

Summarized Recommendations

Men – bring:

• Casual lounging and studying clothes
• A light jacket
• 2 dress shirts (perhaps also some oxford shirts for a classy casual activity)
• Dress shoes (recommended)

Women – bring:

• Casual lounging and studying clothes
• Light jacket
• Casual dress
• Semi-formal dress (not a gown)
• Casual shoes
• Shoes to dance in
• Dressier shoes (maybe heels)

Friendly Reminder

It is also a good rule of thumb to remember that LSE is in London, a city with plenty of shops and clothing options. There is no need to stress out too much about what to pack. Worst case scenario, there are plenty of options to buy the appropriate clothes for the occasion.

 

This blog was written by one of our 2022 Student Ambassadors, who are here to share their stories and help you understand the summer school experience at LSE.